10 Healthy Herbal Teas
By Jessica, September 18, 2012
We are without doubt a nation of tea drinkers, but substituting the occasional cuppa with something a bit more herbal can provide us with more than just a comforting hot drink. Many herbal teas contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that have been credited with aiding weight loss, fighting skin ageing, alleviating stress, boosting energy levels and strengthening the immune system.
Seek out teas that are free from artificial colours, fragrances and flavourings and steep the leaves for anything up to 15 minutes to reap the full benefits.
Chamomile Tea
Known for its calming benefits, chamomile tea can be a helpful remedy for insomnia, stress and anxiety. Other lesser known benefits include the alleviation of coughs, sore throats and indigestion.
Dandelion Tea
Dandelion tea is an excellent liver cleanser and can help improve the overall digestive process. Made from the roots and/or leaves of the dandelion plant, it’s an effective diuretic and some say it helps reduce the occurrence of gallstones.
Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is ideal for those suffering from a stomach upset, indigestion or nausea/vomiting caused by motion sickness. Many also swear by it for providing relief from the aches and pains of arthritis and it is said to boost circulation.
Green Tea
Green tea isn’t technically a herbal tea, coming from a similar plant as black tea. While this means it contains caffeine, it is also rich in powerful antioxidants. In china, this tea has been believed to help prevent high cholesterol, heart disease and even cancer for many years.
Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus tea is said to help with weight loss thanks to its ability to reduce the body’s absorption of complex sugars and starches. It is also believed to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol and boost the immune system. Drink after meals for maximum benefits.
Lemon Balm Tea
This comes in various forms and is a guaranteed mood-lifter. Try it for a quick boost to the spirits or to help you through a cold or flu. Refreshing and tasty, lemon tea is also perfect for serving cold in warmer weather.
Nettle Tea
Nettle Leaf tea is particularly high in vitamins and minerals and is a great source of iron. Known to soothe allergic reactions and hay fever, it can also ease coughs and respiratory problems while improving liver and kidney function.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea is an excellent remedy for bloating and muscle spasms, but should be avoided if suffering from indigestion or heartburn. It’s also one of the easiest teas to make from scratch, with peppermint being a particularly easy herb to grow.
Rooibos Tea
A South African tea, Rooibos has become popular in the western world for its reported anti-ageing effects. The tea contains a range of antioxidants as well as Vitamin C – both powerful ingredients in the fight against signs of ageing as well as being highly beneficial to overall health.
White Tea
White tea contains a number of antioxidants and is claimed to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, boost heart health and have a natural anti-bacterial effect. Like black and green teas, it comes from a traditional tea plant which herbal teas don not, meaning it does contain some caffeine.
